§64.1. Governing board
A. Each community action agency or private nonprofit organization shall administer
its programs through a governing board which shall consist of from fifteen to thirty-one
members who shall be selected by the community action agency or private nonprofit
organization. Each board will be constituted so as to assure that:
(1) One-third of the members of the board shall be elected public officials currently
holding office in the geographical area to be served by the community action agency. If the
number of elected public officials available and willing to serve is less than the one-third
requirement, appointed public officials may be used to meet this requirement. Duly
appointed members may designate an individual to represent them on the board by properly
notifying the local community action agency of such designation.
(2) At least one-third of the members of the governing board shall be individuals
with low income who reside in the area to be served by the agency, or representatives of
those individuals. Persons representing individuals with low income need not themselves
have incomes below the level established by Louisiana Works for purposes of this Part;
however, these representatives must reside in the same geographic area as the individuals
they represent and must be chosen in accordance with democratic selection procedures
adequate to assure that they are representatives of the poor in the area served.
(3) The remaining members of the board shall be officials or members, or their
designees, of public agencies, business, labor, industry, religious, welfare, education, or other
major groups or interests in the community to be served.
B. Each local governing authority or public agency designated as a community action
agency shall establish an advisory board, with advisory powers only, that shall consist of
fifteen to thirty-one members which shall be constituted to assure that:
(1) At least one-third of the members are persons chosen from the area served in
accordance with democratic selection procedures adequate to assure that they are
representative of the poor in the area served; or
(2) Low-income citizens shall participate in the planning, administration, and
evaluation of projects funded by the community action agency in accordance with a
mechanism established by Louisiana Works.
C. The terms of board members selected in Paragraph (A)(1) of this Section shall
coincide with the term of their elected office. The terms of all other board members shall be
no more than five years and they shall serve no more than two consecutive terms without
serving an inactive year. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the
term on any elected official serving on the board shall coincide with his term of office
regardless of whether such terms are consecutive.
D. The governing boards of a community action agency or private nonprofit
organizations shall have the power to appoint a person to the senior staff position; to
determine fiscal and program policies; to approve all rules and procedure; and to assure
compliance with all conditions of this Part which relate to their responsibilities. Such actions
shall be consistent with the policies promulgated by Louisiana Works for the administration
of this Part. If the designated community action agency is the local governing authority, the
community action agency advisory board shall have no powers as outlined in this Subsection
other than advisory to the community action agency.
E. An entity designated as a community action agency shall be considered a private,
nonprofit organization unless it establishes otherwise by October 1, 1994 or upon its initial
designation if such occurs after such date.
Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 54, §1, eff. Aug. 1, 1994; Acts 2008, No. 743, §7, eff.
July 1, 2008.